R.I.P. Pete Seeger, the least un-American guy you’ll ever meet

Tuesday

Jan 28, 2014 at 11:08 AMJan 28, 2014 at 2:51 PM

“I am proud that I have sung for Americans of every political persuasion, and I have never refused to sing for anybody because I disagreed with their political opinion, and I am proud of the fact that my songs seem to cut across and find perhaps a unifying thing, basic humanity, and that is why I would love to be able to tell you about these songs, because I feel that you would agree with me more, sir.”

If you have any doubt that Pete Seeger was just about the bravest, funniest SOB to ever brandish a hate-surrounding banjo, take a few minutes today to read his testimony before the House Unamerican Activities Committee on Aug. 18, 1955, which got him slapped with a contempt of Congress charge. Some highlights appear below, and it’s easy to imagine that Mr. Springsteen would have given similar answers under the same circumstances.

R.I.P. Pete. Thanks for making “basic humanity,” which shouldn’t be that hard a thing to come across, a little bit easier to find.

Fast Tube by Casper

“I am not going to answer any questions as to my association, my philosophical or religious beliefs or my political beliefs, or how I voted in any election, or any of these private affairs. I think these are very improper questions for any American to be asked, especially under such compulsion as this. I would be very glad to tell you my life if you want to hear of it.”

Fast Tube by Casper

“I feel that in my whole life I have never done anything of any conspiratorial nature and I resent very much and very deeply the implication of being called before this Committee that in some way because my opinions may be different from yours, or yours, Mr. Willis, or yours, Mr. Scherer, that I am any less of an American than anybody else. I love my country very deeply, sir.”

Fast Tube by Casper

“I have sung for Americans of every political persuasion, and I am proud that I never refuse to sing to an audience, no matter what religion or color of their skin, or situation in life. I have sung in hobo jungles, and I have sung for the Rockefellers, and I am proud that I have never refused to sing for anybody.”

Pete Chianca

“I am proud that I have sung for Americans of every political persuasion, and I have never refused to sing for anybody because I disagreed with their political opinion, and I am proud of the fact that my songs seem to cut across and find perhaps a unifying thing, basic humanity, and that is why I would love to be able to tell you about these songs, because I feel that you would agree with me more, sir.”

If you have any doubt that Pete Seeger was just about the bravest, funniest SOB to ever brandish a hate-surrounding banjo, take a few minutes today to read his testimony before the House Unamerican Activities Committee on Aug. 18, 1955, which got him slapped with a contempt of Congress charge. Some highlights appear below, and it’s easy to imagine that Mr. Springsteen would have given similar answers under the same circumstances.

R.I.P. Pete. Thanks for making “basic humanity,” which shouldn’t be that hard a thing to come across, a little bit easier to find.

Fast Tube by Casper

“I am not going to answer any questions as to my association, my philosophical or religious beliefs or my political beliefs, or how I voted in any election, or any of these private affairs. I think these are very improper questions for any American to be asked, especially under such compulsion as this. I would be very glad to tell you my life if you want to hear of it.”

Fast Tube by Casper

“I feel that in my whole life I have never done anything of any conspiratorial nature and I resent very much and very deeply the implication of being called before this Committee that in some way because my opinions may be different from yours, or yours, Mr. Willis, or yours, Mr. Scherer, that I am any less of an American than anybody else. I love my country very deeply, sir.”

Fast Tube by Casper

“I have sung for Americans of every political persuasion, and I am proud that I never refuse to sing to an audience, no matter what religion or color of their skin, or situation in life. I have sung in hobo jungles, and I have sung for the Rockefellers, and I am proud that I have never refused to sing for anybody.”

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